MEP Uspaskich questioned as special witness in Alstom trial

BNS EN

Friday, March 31, 2017

Lithuanian MEP Viktor Uspaskich was on Friday questioned by the Special Investigation Service (STT) as special witness. According to information available to BNS, he was questioned in the probe of large-scale bribery and corruption involving French engineering group Alstom that conducted projects estimated at millions of euros in Lithuania.

Asked whether he was asked about the Alstom bribery probe during the questioning, Uspaskich replied that this question should go to the Special Investigation Service.

"I don't know. It's difficult for me to say, as I did not have anything to say or testify. I cannot even tell you anything. Let the investigators talk. (…) I read quite a lot about them (the Alstom investigation), however, I have nothing to add," he told journalists after the interrogation.

Asked whether he was requested to tell about his performance as Lithuania's economy minister in 2004-2005, the MEP replied that the questions were asked.

Under Lithuanian laws, a person is listed as special witness when he is questioned about his actions but there are no sufficient grounds for suspicions against him.

Lithuania's law-enforcement are probing large-scale bribery and corruption involving the French engineering group Alstom, which in 2004-2009 carried out a 200-million-euro project at the Lithuanian Power Plant in Elektrenai and reconstructed the Kaunas hydro power plant for 43 million euros.